Roles of Gallium-67 scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and computed tomography in the detection of abdominal abscesses
The evaluation of patients with suspected abdominal abscesses begins with a history and careful physical examination. Gallium-67 (/sup 67/Ga) scintigraphy, ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT) are utilized only after other routine investigations have failed to localize the abscess. All three modalities are reliable for the detection of abdominal abscesses. The decision regarding which of these three diagnostic tests to use in a particular patient rests upon clinical considerations. If the patient has acute localizing signs and symptoms, /sup 67/Ga should not be used initially. In this type of patient, rapid diagnosis is best provided by either US or CT. Further radiologic investigation may be terminated if the CT or US findings are characteristic of an abscess. A /sup 67/Ga scan should be performed in a patient with acute localizing signs and symptoms if the initial CT or US is negative. In a patient with nonlocalizing signs and symptoms, /sup 67/Ga imaging should be employed as the first procedure since the entire body is easily surveyed. If the /sup 67/Ga images are abnormal, then CT or US should be utilized for further lesion characterization. This diagostic approach will optimize the rapidity of patient evaluation and will minimize diagnostic errors.
- Research Organization:
- Mallinckrodt Inst. of Radiology, St. Louis, MO
- OSTI ID:
- 5883353
- Journal Information:
- Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN SMNMA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ABDOMEN
ABSCESSES
ACOUSTIC TESTING
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
BODY AREAS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EVALUATION
GALLIUM 67
GALLIUM ISOTOPES
IMAGES
INFLAMMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS TESTING
MEDICINE
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
SYMPTOMS
TESTING
TOMOGRAPHY
ULTRASONIC TESTING